Bell's fingers hovered over the teleportation stone in his inventory, the temptation gnawing at him. He could escape right now—avoid the risk, return stronger another day.
But something inside him resisted.
No.
This was an opportunity. A rare chance to push himself past his limits. If he ran now, how could he ever hope to stand among the strongest?
His grip on his worn-out dagger tightened. He had to see this through.
Closing his inventory, he steadied his breath. His body was exhausted, but the rush of combat still fueled him. He looked up at the towering ruins of the abandoned city, its eerie silence pressing down on him like a thick fog.
More monsters were lurking. He could feel it.
—
Notice:
Level Up!
Notice:
Level Up!
Everytime he leveled up, it became easier for him to fight off the monsters. Little by little, he was making progress.
[You have defeated a Razor Clawed Briga.]
[You have defeated a Black Shadow Razan.]
[You have defeated a Black Shadow Razan.]
"I can definitely feel myself getting stronger..."
Bell traveled deeper into the abandoned city of Orario. After some time, he was able to sense something strong. He wasn't sure if he could fight it. He was doubting himself.
A low growl echoed through the empty streets. Bell turned just in time to see a new creature emerge from the shadows.
From the top of a building, something slithered. Bell looked up, his eyes widening.
[Blue Venom Fanged Kasaka]
The name was written in orange.
Bell assumed that this was the boss, it just had to be.
In a move that he was too slow to react to, he was sent into a door of a building. The door broke and he fell onto his back. This was also the last straw for his sword, it was wearing down, and the tip cracked and crumbled. His sword was no longer sharp.
"Damn it..."
The Kasaka lunged again, its fangs aimed for his head.
Bell dodged left, narrowly avoiding the strike. He felt the venom's heat as it splattered against the stone behind him, hissing on contact. His foot twisted, and before he could recover, the Kasaka's tail came whipping around.
Bell barely crossed his arms before it slammed into him.
He was sent flying through another building, skidding across the ground.
His arms ached. His body felt heavy. But he still stood back up.
His breaths were ragged, but his mind was clear.
This was it.
He would not run.
Bell forced his tired body forward. He could feel it—his strength, his agility, his instincts—all sharpening with every battle.
He clenched his weapon.
No more hesitation.
The Kasaka hissed and lunged.
Bell charged forward.
He swiped and wacked. His broken sword did nothing against the tough scales of the beast. Kasaka moved, its tail slammed against Bell, knocking him down onto his knees. He started to doubt himself. "Am I not strong enough?"
He stood up once Kasaka attacked once more. The face of his sword blocked against the fangs of the giant snake. The image of Hestia invaded his mind. His Goddess, the one that accepted and took him in when nobody else would. And then Ais herself, he wanted to become strong. Strong for them. And maybe, in the future, it would be him protecting Ais from danger.
He roared in fristation. The tail of the snake wacked against him once more. He stumbled and fell to his knees. His body was trembling, panting, huffing. He told himself something he had been repeating for however long he had been in here.
"I need to become stronger."
SWOOSH
Kasaka flung toward him, fangs bared. He lunged into the air and his sword screeched against the scales. Bell was slipping, deciding to grab the scales. He was just strong enough to crack the protective layer.
CRACK
He poured everything into strength.
"DIE!"
CRUSH
Bell collapsed onto his back, chest rising and falling in ragged breaths. His body ached all over, his muscles screaming in protest after the brutal fight. The remains of Kasaka's massive body lay still beside him, its once-impenetrable scales now shattered and crumbling.
His fingers twitched, gripping the broken hilt of his sword. He had done it.
The thrill of victory was overwhelming, yet his mind was clouded with exhaustion. The notification screens flickered before his eyes, listing his accomplishments.
Notice:
[You have defeated The Blue Venom Fanged Kasaka.]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
[Level Up!]
Three levels in one battle...
Bell let out a breathless laugh. This was proof. Proof that he was growing stronger.
He clenched his fist. He wasn't just some reckless, weak adventurer anymore.
Slowly, he forced himself up, legs trembling beneath him. He could feel the difference already. His body was adapting—faster, stronger, more resilient.
He opened his inventory, eyes scanning over his loot from the dungeon boss.
[Item: Kasaka's Venom Gland]
Level of difficulty: A
Type: Poison
A pouch containing refined venom from Kasaka. Upon defeating Kasaka, you have a slim chance of obtaining this item. Drinking this venom will make your skin tough, but your muscles will permanently damaged due to the poison.
-Effect "Kasaka's Ironclad Scales": 20% less physical damage
-Side effect "Muscle Damage": -35 Strength
[Item: Kasaka's Venom Fang]
Level of difficulty: C
Type: Dagger
Attack +25
A dagger made from Kasaka's venom fang. Kasaka's venom still remains within it, thus causing paralyzation and bleeding when used upon an opponent. You may store this item in your inventory, or sell it at the shop.
-Effect "Paralyze": The opponent will be paralyzed at a certain rate.
-Effect "Bleed": The opponent will lose 1% health every second.
Notice:
[You have defeated the boss. The dungeon will now be restored to its original state.]
As Bell stood over Kasaka's remains, a warm glow enveloped the ruined cityscape. The darkened sky brightened, and the oppressive silence that had weighed on him lifted. The abandoned buildings around him shimmered, shifting back into their original forms.
Then, suddenly—he was back.
The bustling streets of Orario surrounded him once more. The towering Babel stood tall in the distance, and the chatter of people filled the air. It was as if the dungeon had never twisted the world into that eerie, empty battlefield.
Still catching his breath, Bell tightened his grip on Kasaka's Fang—the weapon he had earned through his struggle. There was only one place to go now. He needed to see how far he had come.
As he walked toward Babel Tower, Bell couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. His steps slowed, and he turned sharply—but the moment his eyes scanned the street, there was no one there.
Just as he was about to shrug it off, a gentle voice called out to him.
"Excuse me! You dropped this."
Bell turned to see a silver-haired girl holding out a small, shimmering magic stone.
Bell frowned. "Huh? But I'm sure I traded all my magic stones..."
Still, he accepted it with a grateful nod. "Thanks."
The girl smiled. "Are you an adventurer? You must've entered the dungeon really early."
Bell chuckled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, something like that."
Before the conversation could continue, a loud grumble echoed from his stomach.
The girl giggled. "Here, take this." She held out a lunchbox.
Bell waved his hands in refusal, embarrassed. "No, I couldn't—"
"Don't worry about me," she said with a warm smile. "I work at a pub, so I can get food there."
Still hesitant, Bell finally accepted it. "Thank you... I really appreciate it."
"In exchange, promise you'll come by the pub tonight."
Bell blinked in surprise before nodding. "Yeah, of course."
With a final smile, the girl turned and walked away.
Bell glanced at the lunchbox, a small smile forming on his lips. It had been a while since someone outside of Hestia had been this kind to him.
Bell descended back into the dungeon, his confidence soaring.
The moment he encountered a goblin, it felt different. The same monsters that had once been a struggle were now nothing but training dummies. With a single slash of Kasaka's Fang, the goblin collapsed instantly.
More monsters appeared—kobolds, imps, needle rabbits—but they barely posed a challenge.
Each strike was precise, each movement faster than before. This was the result of his hard work.
As he ventured deeper, Bell felt his newfound strength more and more. It was addicting.
Hestia's Cold Shoulder
By the time Bell returned home, he was exhausted but eager to see his growth. He immediately checked his status.
Name: Bell Cranel
Job: None
Title: Wolf Assassin
Level: 18
Fatigue: 72
HP: 2220
MP: 350
Strength: 48
Health: 27
Agility: 27
Intelligence: 27
Sense: 27
Available Ability Points: 14
Level 18.
He had come so far in such a short amount of time. He couldn't wait to tell Hestia.
"Hestia!" he called, stepping into their small home. "You won't believe how much I've grown! My level is—"
"Go away."
Bell froze. Hestia sat with her arms crossed, pouting.
"Wha—what's wrong?" Bell asked, confused.
"You were out all day, and now you suddenly come back, talking about your 'stats' instead of spending time with me?!" Hestia huffed, turning her back to him.
Bell sweatdropped. Oh. She was being petty.
He chuckled nervously. "I-I'll make it up to you later, I swear!"
"Hmmph." Hestia refused to budge.
Bell sighed, knowing there was no winning this right now. "I'll be back soon, okay?"
Still no response.
—
The pub was warm and welcoming when Bell stepped inside.
Immediately, he was greeted by the silver-haired girl from earlier.
"You actually came!" she said, smiling brightly. "I'm Syr Flova."
"Nice to meet you," Bell said, nodding politely.
Syr led him to a table, and before he knew it, a feast was placed in front of him.
Bell's eyes widened. "T-this is too much!"
"Eat up," Syr grinned. "Consider it a reward."
Bell hesitated, but his stomach had other ideas. He dug in, the flavors overwhelming his senses.
Just as he was finishing up, a voice called from across the room.
"They're here!"
Bell glanced up.
The reserved guests had arrived.
And standing at the front of the group—was Ais Wallenstein.
----
Next: Gifts and Debts